Over 350 of America’s rarest and most historic classic motorcycles are on display in the museum. The machines represent 25 different brands, including icons like Harley-Davidson and Indian as well as gems of the past, including Excelsior, Crocker, Henderson, Pope, Yale, Crocker, Flying Merkel, and many more. And all the machines on display are in operating condition. But it is not just a timeline of machines on display. Motorcycling is a spirit—a brotherhood and sisterhood, a tight knit community bound together by a love of machine and the open road. There is something very American about the relationship between motorcycle and rider and between the rider and the likeminded community of bikers.
The museum has several lifelike exhibits. For example, there is a replica of an actual small town motorcycle shop. The Shop was the pride and passion of a young entrepreneur who came back from the great war with the desire to own and operate his own Harley-Davidson dealership. Shops like this popped up in small towns across the country. These independent dealerships were heavily involved in racing and local club activities. Many formed their own clubs, enabling a sense of not only customer loyalty but more importantly brand loyalty. Wheels Through Time is not just a display of machines as impressive as they are. It is packed full of motorcycle memorabilia including works of the renowned artist, David Uhl, famous for his motorcycle related pieces. His paintings on display in the museum capture dynamic facets of the early motorcycle era and the beauty of these remarkable machines.
While Wheels Through Time is first and foremost all about the motorcycle and the biker community, it also includes an impressive automobile collection including a pair of 1932 roadsters, Packards and Lincolns from the classic era as well as distinctive “one off” autos such as a 1949 Veritas and the massive 1915 Locomobile built during the gilded age of American history.
The museum is a non-profit organization financed by tax deductible donations and annually holds a motorcycle raffle, which helps them continue their mission. For example, the 2021 motorbike being raffled is a milestone 1948 Harley-Davidson Panhead finished in brilliant black and chrome brought back to life in the Wheels Through Time restoration shop. Wheels Through Time is located at 62 Vintage Lane, Maggie Valley, North Carolina 28751. And you can learn more about the museum by going to https://wheelsthroughtime.com.